&#34;zipper&#34; fastener



Feb.14, 1939. 1 BRAUSTIN I 2,146,714

" ZIPPER" FASTENER Filed Nov. 7, 1956 mmm mum mmm Patented Feb. -14, Y1939l UNITED STATES ZIPPER FAS'.IENI'IR` Ben Bagan Austin, Nashville, Tenn.

Application November 7,1936, Serial No. 109,791

. 3 Claims.

This invention. relates to an improvement in so-called Zipper fasteners: Y

Itis the purpose and object 'of the invention to provide a ,Zipper" fastener structure wherein 5 the closed portion may be opened to any extent desired without moving the Zipper clip.

It frequently happens that in closing a "Zipper fastener on hand bags, coats, and the like, a handkerchief, necktie', or the like becomes 1o caught in the fastener, which precludes thereturn of the clip back over the Zipper" track to reopen the same. It furthermore often happens that the wearer oi a coat equipped with a Zipper fastener desires to have the garment open 15 at the bottomin the manner permitted through the use of buttons. In accordance with the present invention, the closed portion of the Zipper may be opened at will without movingthe clip sovthat any object that may havebeen caught in closing the Zipper can be readily freed thererom.

A son "further object of the invention 1s to -provide a "Zipper fastener structure wherein. v

the closed portion of thestructure may be opened g without movement of the clip or slider and wherein provision is made for permitting the slider to 30 will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.-

` In the accompanying drawing forming a partf of this specincation and in which like numerals are employedto designate like parts throughout 35 the same: i

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a garment, such as a' jacket. with the "Zipper fastener structure embodying this invention applied thereto and employed in the conventional way to close u a portion ofthe fastener structure;

jl'igure 2 is a front elevational view lof the fZipper fastener structure illustrated in Figure 1 but with the closed portion of the structureopen, while the clip or slider has remained in the position illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the garment illustrated in Figures l and 2 with the clip or slider moved to the upper or final end of the. 1

u Figure 5 is a detail, sectional, elevational view' well-known form, and each consists of a projection on one face and a recess or cavity in the opposite face, with the project/ion and recess of each element interlocking with a recess andv projection on two adjacent fastener elements of the opposed row.

A conventional form oill` clip or slider 8 is provided and consists of the two diverging grooves or .tracks which function' to cause the fastenerv elements I of the. opposedlirows to approach each other at a proper angle to cause interlocking of the respective projections and sockets. In Figure 4 the row of fastener elements 'I which are associated with the left-hand edge of the garl ment terminates at 8. Beyond this termination of the fastener elements,` there is positioned a clip`mounting III which .consists of a guide rail. II \fastened at its opposite ends .to the garment edge and slidably receiving a clip I2 which is ofv hollowformation and is provided with an inwardly directed rib I3 extending longitudinally of theclip I2 and .transversely of the guide rail II. An upstanding pin Il is carried by the clip mounting III for receivingthe ribbed portion-of the clip to retain the same against angular movement v'relative to the guide rail II. The remaining edge of the garment has its row of fastener .elements 'I terminating at I5.V Beyond-this terminal I5, the garment has fastened thereto a'pin` I6 which projects downwardly and is provided 40 with a circumferential groove I 1. Figure 4 illustrates'the two edges of the garment separated withthe clip arranged to receive the pin I4. Figure 5 illustrates the lower edge portions of the garment associated and with the clip I2 moved along the guide rail I I to cause the clip to receive the depending pin Il. In Figure 5 thel inwardly directed rib I3 is received within the groove I1 of the pin It to retain the lower portions. of the edges of the garment connected. Figure 5 also illustrates a few of the separablefastener elements 'I as being closed or interlockrd. To effect this interlockinmthe'clip or-slider I is moved downwardly of the left-hand row of separable fasteners'lonto the guide rail II. The pin` IB then may be inserted into its respective angu-` lar groove or track in the slider. The clip or slider should then be moved upwardly until it vclears the pin I8. This pin I6 will be found to register axially with the'pin I4 on the clip carrier IBL The clip I2 then is moved upwardly along the guide rail II. until it receives the depending end of the pin I8 and the rib I3 of the clip is engaged within th'e groove I1 of the pin I8.

The "Zipper clip or slider 8 is then moved along the rows of fastener elements 1 to any desired position, for example, as shown in Figure 1. The

"Zipper fastener structure may be left in this position if desired. z

Should the wearer of the garment B desire to open the closed 'portion of the. fastener structure without moving the slider 8 downwardly, he may do so by moving the clip I2 downwardly out of engagement with the dependingrend portion of the pin I8. The lower portions of the edges of the garment may then be pulled apart and the fastener elements 1 separated up to the slider 8. This condition is illustrated in Figure 2.

. Figure 3 illustrates a further use of this form of Zipper fastener. In this illustration, the slider or clip 8 has been moved to the upper ends i of the rowsof fastener elements 1,' and the clip tion because the grooves formed in the slider will.

I2l has been moved out of engagement with the depending portion of the pin IB. ,The lower portions of the edges of the garment are then pulled apart to' 'separate the fastener elements 1 up to.

any desired point.

:it win be appreciated that with the conditi@v illustrated in Figure 2, the slider l can only be moved in one direction; namely, upwardly toward the upper ends ofthe rows of fastener elements. The slider cannot be moved in the opposite direcnot bring the fastener elements located down-v wardly of the slider into 4proper angular relation to interlock the same. To take care of this condition, the slider must be moved to theupper ends of the rows of fastener elements. Figure 4 clearly lillustrates that the row of fastener elements associated with the left-hand edge of the garment terminates at Il. Movement of the slider 8 beyond this termination of the fastener elements disconnects one row of elements fromV the slider. -The slider remains connected to the other row of elements and is prevented from being disconnected from the same by means of the stop Il. After being separated from the righthand row offastener elements, the slider or clip 8 may be moved downwardlyalong the left-hand row of fastener elements, as illustrated in Figure 4, until it is returned to its initial starting point. The operation of re-connecting the fastener elements 1 may be repeated in the manner described above.

i It is to be 'understood that the form of this invention herewith shown` and described is to be taken as la preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape. size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, whatI( aligned with one row of fastening'elements, a

pin longitudinally aligned withvthe other row-of fastening elements and a clip movable on said guide rail into andout of securing engagement with said pin. l

2. A Zipper fastener comprising complementary rows of fastening elements, a slider for closing said rows of fastening elements, and a releas. able latch member carried at the starting end of the rows of fastening elements by which said starting end canvbe separated at will,'said latch memberv comprising aI guide rail longitudinally aligned with one of said rows of fastening elements, a pin longitudinally aligned with the other of said rows of fastening elements and a clip movable on said guide rail into and out of securing engagement with said pin.

` 3.'An improved Zipper fastener comprising complementary rows of interlockingy elements. a slide 'movable longitudinally of said rows for the purpose of attaching or separating said rows. a latch member carried at the starting end of said rows of interlocking elements, said latchv member comprising a guide rail longitudinally aligned with one of said rows, a pin longitudinally aligned with the other I.of-said rows and a' clip movable on said guide rail into and outof securing engagement with said pin, and one of said rows terminating short of the terminal end of the second row in such manner that the first mentioned row will be released from the slide when said slide is moved to the extreme terminal end of said. second row.

. BEN PAGAN AUSTIN. 

